State Prison officials will soon approach the BMC-run KEM hospital on whether the hospital has facilities to conduct advanced cardiovascular tests on former Deputy Chief Minister and NCP leader, Chhagan Bhujbal.

These tests were prescribed by JJ hospital. Bhujbal, an accused in a money laundering case, has been lodged in Mumbai’s Arthur Road jail.

Top officials told The Indian Express that since JJ authorities have already indicated that the hospital lacks such facilities, they will soon write to the KEM hospital and only then will they refer the case to private hospitals.

“KEM is known to have good infrastructure and we hope the test required to be conducted on Bhujbal can be carried out there,” an official said.

Bhujbal, recently discharged from JJ hospital after spending almost a month there, reportedly had a heart condition.

At the time of discharge, JJ hospital Dean, TP Lahane had said Bhujbal needs to undergo a Holter examination, a thallium scan and an electrophysiology evaluation following which the Prison Department had written to JJ hospital to name the hospitals where the tests could be conducted.

“Since JJ hospital mentioned they are not equipped to carry out the tests at their hospital, we have written to them to suggest a hospital to us so that we could get Bhujbal tested there,” a senior official from the Prisons Department told The Indian Express.

“Bhujbal requires to be subjected to certain tests which require hospitalisation. These cardiovascular tests is to determine why is his heartbeat erratic despite being at the hospital for a considerable period of time,” the official said.

According to officials, Bhujbal, who complained of fever with symptoms of dengue was admitted to the JJ hospital on September 17. Bhujbal was discharged last week.

“While he recovered from fever and is back at Arthur Road jail, Bhujbal is weak and complains of complications pertaining to his heart,” the official said.

Sources indicated that they may write to the Bombay High Court seeking the court’s opinion on the issue. “We would apprise the court of the matter and ask them to direct us accordingly,” the sources said.

Earlier this year, Bhujbal and his nephew Samir were arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED ) in a money laundering case. The duo have been chargesheeted by the ED and the State Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) which have been probing alleged irregularities in construction of the Maharashtra Sadan building in New Delhi and the Kalina Library in western suburban Mumbai.

The agencies alleged that the contracts were awarded when Bhujbal was State Public Works Department (PWD) minister, in lieu of money, and the proceeds were invested mainly in real estate through six shell companies. The uncle-nephew duo are lodged at Mumbai’s Arthur Road jail.